Machine for applying metal fasteners to flexible containers



May 5, 1964 J. E. GOHRING ETAL MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL FASTENERS TO FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS Filed July 3, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS BY W & 6 m R H 0 6 E m J WILLIAM R. GUI- RING TTORNEY May 5, 1964 J. E. GOHRING ETAL 3,131,398

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL FASTENERS TO FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS Filed July 3, 1962 5 SheetsSheet 2 JOHN E. GOhRI/VG 8 WILLIAM R. GOHR/NG IN VEN TORS May 5, 1964 J. E. GOHRING ETAL 3,131,398

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL FASTENERS TO FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS Filed July 3, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q r I u, r k\\ \\\\\\\\\\Y I V/////A V/////////A H JOHN E. ao/mnva a WILL/AM R. GOHR/IVG V i l INVENTORS Ema 9 BY W TORNE Y y 1964 J. E. GOHRING ETAL 3,131,398

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL FASTENERS TO FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July .3, 1962 JOHN E. GOHR/NG 8 WILLIAM R. GOHR/IVG INVENTORS May 5, 1964 J. E. GOHRING ETAL 3,131,398

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL FASTENERS TO FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS Filed July 3, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JOHN E. GOHRlA/G a 1m L IA M R. GOHRI/VG INVENTORS United States Patent 3,131,398 MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL FASTENERS T0 FLEXIBLE CGNTAINERS John E. Gohring, Scotch Plains, N452, and William R. Gohring, Bethel Park, Pa, assignors to American Fastener Corporation, Manasquan, N..I., a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 3, 1962, Ser. No. 207,339 2 Claims. (Cl. 1329) This invention relates to a machine for applying a metal fastener as an encircling band around the gathered neck of a flexible container to thereby retain the container in closed position. More particularly, the invention pertains to an improved mechanism for automatically initiating actuation of the machine upon insertion of the container neck into the fastener-applying position and associated means for assuring a proper positioning of the container neck relative to the forming dies which apply the metal fastener thereto.

A fastener-applying machine of the type contemplated by this invention is disclosed in pending United States patent application Serial Number 54,204, filed September 6, 1960, and entitled, Machine for Producing Metal Fasteners and Applying Same to the Gathered Neck of a Flexible Container, now Patent No. 3,076,970, dated February 12, 1963. Briefly, such machine comprises a pair of co-acting forming dies cyclically operated to sever an end from a continuous length of metal strip stock and forming the severed end into a circular band tightly applied to the gathered neck of a container. The machine is provided with a suitable operating station for accommodating the gathered container neck and includes means associated with the operating station for initiating operation of the forming dies through one complete operating cycle upon insertion of the container neck into the operating station.

In a machine of this type, it is important that machine operation be initiated only when the gathered container neck is properly disposed in the operating station and that neck portion disposed within the operating station retain a generally circular cross section during operation of the forming dies, all for the purpose of assuring proper application of the fastener to the container. It is also desirable to provide means effective to prevent a second cycle of operation of the forming dies until the container neck having the metal band secured thereto is withdrawn from the machine operating station. The inventive features to be described hereinbelow are directed to the accomplishment of these and related purposes.

An object of this invention is the provision of improved means for initiating automatic operation of a fastenerapplying machine upon the insertion of the gathered neck of a flexible container into operative position relative to the machine.

An object of this invention is the provision of a fastener applying machine provided with means for preventing substantial expansion of a portion of a gathered container neck during the application of a fastener thereto.

An object of this invention is the provision of a machine for applying a metal fastener to the gathered neck of a flexible container to retain the container in closed position, which machine is provided with an improved mechanism for controlling the operation of a pair of forming dies upon insertion of the container neck into a machineoperating station.

An object of this invention is the provision, in a machine of this class, of automatic means for reversing relative movement of the forming dies after the dies have reached the fully closed position under normal operating conditions or when the normal movement of the dies toward the closed position is unduly restrained.

These and other objects and advantages will become 3,l3l,398 Patented May 5., 1964 apparent from the following detailed description when taken with the accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and are not to be construed as defining the scope or limits of the invention, reference being had for the latter purpose to the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts in the several views:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view showing the complete machine;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, central, cross-sectional view, drawn to an enlarged scale and showing a fastener applied to the container neck;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view showing the left side of the machine with the housing covers removed;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to FIGURE 3 and drawn to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV of FIGURE 4 and drawn to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIGURE 4 and also drawn to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 7 is similar to FIGURE 4 but showing the position of the linkage mechanism at the start of machine operation;

FIGURE 8 is similar to FIGURE 7, with parts omitted, and showing the position of the linkage mechanism at the completion of one cycle of machine operation;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical, cross-sectional, View taken along the line IXIX of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 10 is a vertical, cross-sectional View taken along the line X-X of FIGURE 4.

Reference is first made to FIGURE 1. A vertical mounting plate It) is rigidly secured to a base plate 11 and constitutes a chassis for supporting most of the operating components of the machine. A pair of complementary housing covers 12, 13 enclose the machine components and are secured in place in any suitable manner as, for example, by the screws 24. At the front end of the machine, one surface of the mounting plate 10 is recessed to accommodate a die plate 14 which is provided with a forwardly-extending slot aligned with a corresponding slot formed in the mounting plate thereby forming an entrance slot 15. A portion of the side walls defining this slot in the mounting plate are recessed thereby forming a race- Way I6. The slot 15 constitutes a guideway for directing the twisted, or gathered, neck of a flexible container (such as the illustrated casing 17 containing a compacted meat product) to the fastener-applying station, it being noted that the forward end of the slot 15 diverges along smooth curves to facilitate entry of the casing neck into the slot. On the other hand, the raceway I6 permits withdrawal of the casing neck after the fastener has been applied thereto. Such fastener is cut from a flat, metal ribbon and applied to the casing neck as an encircling band, as shown in the enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view of FIGURE 2. As shown in FIGURE 2, the inner surface of the fastener 18 is provided with a plurality of grooves, or channels. These channels lie in planes normal to the axis of the casing neck and are filled with the casing material thereby providing a self-gripping action so that the fastener cannot become loose, due to handling, and cannot slide along the casing neck under the influence of pressure generated, for example, by the enclosed, compacted meat product.

In FIGURE 1, there is visible a pivotally-mounted, slotted trip arm 20, A corresponding second trip arm is disposed on the rear surface of the mounting plate 10. These two arms serve to retain the gathered container neck in proper form and orientation relative to the forming dies which apply the fastener. These arms also serve as trip fingers to initiate operation of the machine when the casing neck is in proper, fastener-applying position and as a safety means to prevent a second operation of tion, that is, the machine is dormant but ready for operation. As has been stated hereinabove, machine operation is initiated upon the insertion of a twisted container neck along the receiving slot to the fastener-applying station. Upon such insertion of the container neck, the trip arms are rotated to substantially vertical position as shown in FIGURE 7, to which specific reference is now made.

When the twisted container neck is disposed in the fastener-applying position, the trip arms are substantially in vertical position. The horizontal surfaces defining the entrance slot 15 and the diverging surfaces defining the slot in the trip arm define a transverse opening 61 which is filled by the neck of the container passing therethrough. Inasmuch as there are two such openings 61 formed on either side of the vertical mounting plate, it will be apparent that that portion of the container neck disposed between the two slotted trip arms 29, 20 will also be retained in substantially the same cross-sectional configuration. Thus, the pivotally mounted, trip arms 20, 20, in cooperation with the defining walls of the entrance slot 15, serve to prevent untwisting or expansion of the container neck during the fastener-applying operation.

Rotation of the trip arms to the position shown in FIGURE 7, results in a linear movement of the horizontal link arm 42 to the left and a counterclockwise rotation of the vertical link arm 45 about its pivot 47. It will be noted that the notch 58, in the transverse arm 51 is defined by a sharp wall to the left of the pin 59 and a sloping wall to the right of the pin. Consequently, counterclockwise rotation of the vertical bar 45 produces a movement of the transverse bar 51 to the left thereby bringing the air valve control lever to vertical position, in which position air is admitted to the main drive cylinder 37 through the lines 39, 39'. Such air pressure in the cylinder 37 drives the piston rod 36 upwardly causing the lower, forming die to sever the metal ribbon and, in coaction with the upper, stationary die, to apply such severed end of the ribbon around the container neck. As long as the air control valve lever 35 remains in the vertical position, air pressure is effective in driving the piston rod 36 unpwardly. Once the dies are in the fully closed position, a back pressure is built up in the auxiliary, or reset, cylidner 57, causing a vertical movement of the piston rod 56. Such movement of this piston rod rotates the transverse arm 51 about its pivot 52 thereby moving the right end of the transverse rod upwardly and free of the pin 59. The transverse arm 51 is now supported by the piston rod 56 in an elevated position whereby the tension spring 54 pulls the transverse arm to the right and returns the air control valve lever 35 to the original, tilted position. When this happens, air is admitted to the main drive cylinder 37 on the opposite side of the .piston thereby driving the piston rod 36 downwardly to its original position. This completes one operating cycle of the machine. It is pointed out that once machine operation is initiated upon rotation of the trip arms to the vertical position by the container neck, the machine will operate throughout one complete cycle. Once the air pressure is removed from the lines 39, 39', the piston rod 56 returns to its original position but the pin 59 remains out of the notch 58 until the vertical link bar 45 is returned to its original position. This disposition of the various arms is shown in the fragmentary view of FIGURE 8, it being noted that the transverse bar 51 is now slidably supported by the pin 59 and downwardly biased by the tension spring 60. Although the spring 48 tends to pull the vertical link bar 45 in a clockwise direction around its pivot 47, such movement of the bar cannot occur without a corresponding angular rotation of the trip arm 20' and, obviously, rotation of the trip arm cannot occur while the container neck remains in the fastener-applying station. Inasmuch as the entire linkage mechanism normally is enclosed by the machine housing covers (see FIGURE 1) it is impossible for the operator to initiate a second operation of the machine until the container neck is substantially completely withdrawn from the receiving slot 15. When the casing neck is withdrawn from the machine, the spring 48 is effective to rotate the vertical link arm 45 in a clockwise direction causing the pin 59 to fall into the notch 58, thereby again coupling the vertical link bar 45 to the transverse bar 51, as shown in FIGURE 4. At the same time, the slotted trip arms are returned to the original, tilted position and the machine is in condition for operation throughout another cycle.

In a machine of this type, it is desirable to provide means whereby the operator can adjust the machine for proper operation on twisted casing necks having a given nominal cross-sectional area. Specifically, for a casing neck of relatively small cross-sectional area, the spacing between the co-acting ends of the forming dies will be less than that required for a casing neck of relatively large cross-sectional area. Such spacing of the forming dies is desirable to bring the ends of the fastener into abutting relation when the fastener is applied around the casing neck as a tight, circular band. The manual setting of the spacing between the forming dies is accomplished simply and positively by rotation of the adjustment knob 21 shown in FIGURE 1, as will be described hereinbelow with specific reference to FIGURE 9.

As has been stated hereinabove, the twisted portion of the casing neck in the fastener-applying station of the machine, will have a cross-sectional configuration determined substantially by the degree to which the slotted trip arms extend beyond the entrance slot of the machine. Specifically, and with reference to FIGURE 7, the transverse opening 61 is defined by walls of the entrance slot 15 and the diverging walls of the slot in the trip arm 20. A similar transverse opening is defined at the back surface of the machine by the corresponding trip arm 20. In the actual machine, these aligned, transverse slots lie in planes that are spaced apart approximately /2 inch. Consequently, the cross-sectional configuration of the casing neck, taken axially between the slotted trip arms, will not vary significantly from that defined by the transverse slots. If, now, the machine is to be conditioned for operation on twisted casing necks of relatively greater, nominal cross-sectional area, the spacing between the forming dies desirably should be increased and, at the same time, the size of the aligned, transverse openings should be correspondingly increased, all for the purpose of preventing possible puncture of the casing material and the proper application of the fastener thereto.

The arrangement for the simultaneous adjustment of the spacing between the forming dies and the size of the aligned transverse openings is best illustrated in FIGURE 9, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of FIGURE 7 and showing the twisted neck of the casing 17 in the fastener-applying position. The lower forming die 62 has an upper end normally spaced from the lower end of the upper forming die 63 when the dies are in the normal, open position. During machine operation, the lower die 62 is driven upward by the piston rod of the drive cylinder. When the dies are in the closed position, co-acting ends of the dies form a severed end of the metal ribbon into a circular band tightly applied to the casing neck. Although the upper die 63 remains stationary during machine operation, its position relative to the lower die is adjustable by means of the knob 21 having a threaded shank 64 operating in matching threads formed in the blocks 65 (see also FIGURE 4) which blocks are secured to opposite surfaces of the vertical mounting plate 10. The upper die 63 is provided with a vertical slot 66 terminating in a transverse hole 67. A pin 68, having an end force-fitted within an axial slot formed in the threaded shank 64 has a shank portion passing through the vertical slot 66 and a head 69 disposed within the transverse slot 67. The arrangement is such that rotation of the knob 21 moves the die 63 up or down to adjust the spacing between the two dies, yet the die can be uncoupled from the pin 63 upon removal of the die plate 14. The walls'of the vertical mounting plate It) and the removable die plate 14, which form two walls of the die channel, are provided with aligned, elongated slots 70, 71, respectively. The shaft 44, having the slotted trip arms 20, 20' secured to each end, passes through a hole in the die 63 and is rotatable therein. It will be apparent, thereforeflhat vertical positioning of the die 63, by rotation of the knob 21, is possible within a range defined by the elongated slots 70, 71 without, in any way, affecting the pivotal action of the trip arms '29, 2t) and the corresponding linear movement of the horizontal link arm 42. By reason of the tapered slots formed in-the slotted trip arms, theefiective size of the transverse slots (see also FIGURE 7) will increase or decrease in correspondence with an increase or decrease in the normal spacing between the dies as pre-set by rotation-of the knob 21.

Referring, again, to FIGURE 4, an adjustable stop member 75 is provided to limit the angular rotation of the slotted trip arms so that the gathered casing neck will be disposed in proper position when the neck is inserted to the fullest possible extent within the entrance slot 15. Overtravel of the trip arms is prevented by an adjustable stop member '75 supported on the vertical mounting plate 10. As best shown in FIGURE 10, which is a crosssectional view taken along the line X-X of FIGURE 4, the stop member 75 is a bushing eccentrically mounted on the screw 76. By loosening the screw slightly, the

bushing can be rotated to engage the edge of the vertical link arm 45 when the slotted trip arm 25) is rotated to the desired position. Upon subsequent tightening of the screw 76, the bushing is frictionally clamped, in the preset position, between the spring washer 77 and the vertical mounting plate 16. It is here also pointed out that the vertical link arm 45 is pivotally secured with respect to the mounting-plate It) by a screw 47. Such screw preferably is provided with an eccentric shoulder thereby to afford adjustment of the pivot axis or" the arm 45 so as to assure opening of the air control valve 34 when the arm 45 abuts the stop 75.

From the above description, it is apparent that we have provided a trip and linkage mechanism which assures that the twisted casing neck must be disposed in proper positionrelative to the forming dies before initiation of machine operation, and wherein a second operation of the machine cannot take place until the container neck is, in a practical sense, removed from the machine. Air pressure is applied to drive the forming dies from open to closed position until the limit of die movement is reached. Only then does a back air pressure buildup in the auxiliary air cylinder to cause relative movement of the dies to the open position. This latter feature assures a positive, full closure of the dies for proper application of the fastener when the machine operates in the normal, intended manner. However, should something occur to unduly prevent upward movement of the lower die to the full limit of its normal travel, back pressure will develop in the main air line causing the auxiliary air cylinder to trip the air control leverto drive the lower die downward, thereby preventing a jamming of the machine and possibly serious damage.

While we have given a detailed description of the preferred form of our novel trip arms and linkage mechanism, those skilled in this art will be able to make various changes and modifications in the form and disposition of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a machine for applying a fastener around'the gathered neck of a flexible container and comprising a mounting plate provided with a vertical die channel, a pair of co-acting dies disposed in the die channel and relatively movable from open to closed position, means forming an entrance slot in the mounting plate for guiding a container neck to a fastener-applying station between the dies, manually-operable means to adjust the upper die to a predetermined spacing relative to the lower die,

and drive means for movement of the lower die toward the upper die to die-closed position thereby to apply a fastener to the container neck disposed in the fastenerapplying station; the combination of a pair of trip arms carried on opposite ends of a shaft and rotatable as a unit therewith, said shaft extending through a bearing hole formed in the upper die and through vertical elongated openings formed in opposed walls of the die channel, and the said trip arms extending across the said entrance slot on opposite sides of the said mounting plate; spring means normally biasing the trip arms to-a first position for engagernent by a container neck as the latter is moved along the entrance slot toward the fastener-applying station;

and control means mechanically coupled to one of the said trip arms, said control means actuating the said drive means when the trip arms are rotated by the container neck to a second position defined by the disposition of the container neck in the fastener-applying station.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein each trip arm includes a pair of diverging fingers of different lengths, and wherein only the longer fingers of each trip arm extend across the said entrance slot when the trip arms are inthe said first position, and wherein both fingers of each trip arm span the container neck when the latter is in the fastener-applying station.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,022,511 Macy Feb. 27, 1962 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR APPLYING A FASTENER AROUND THE GATHERED NECK OF A FLEXIBLE CONTAINER AND COMPRISING A MOUNTING PLATE PROVIDED WITH A VERTICAL DIE CHANNEL, A PAIR OF CO-ACTING DIES DISPOSED IN THE DIE CHANNEL AND RELATIVELY MOVABLE FROM OPEN TO CLOSED POSITION, MEANS FORMING AN ENTRANCE SLOT IN THE MOUNTING PLATE FOR GUIDING A CONTAINER NECK TO A FASTENER-APPLYING STATION BETWEEN THE DIES, MANUALLY-OPERABLE MEANS TO ADJUST THE UPPER DIE TO A PREDETERMINED SPACING RELATIVE TO THE LOWER DIE, AND DRIVE MEANS FOR MOVEMENT OF THE LOWER DIE TOWARD THE UPPER DIE TO DIE-CLOSED POSITION THEREBY TO APPLY A FASTENER TO THE CONTAINER NECK DISPOSED IN THE FASTENERAPPLYING STATION; THE COMBINATION OF A PAIR OF TRIP ARMS CARRIED ON OPPOSITE ENDS OF A SHAFT AND ROTATABLE AS A UNIT THEREWITH, SAID SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH A BEARING HOLE FORMED IN THE UPPER DIE AND THROUGH VERTICAL ELONGATED OPENINGS FORMED IN OPPOSED WALLS OF THE DIE CHANNEL, AND THE SAID TRIP ARMS EXTENDING ACROSS THE SAID ENTRANCE SLOT ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SAID MOUNTING PLATE; SPRING MEANS NORMALLY BIASING THE TRIP ARMS TO A FIRST POSITION FOR ENGAGEMENT BY A CONTAINER NECK AS THE LATTER IS MOVED ALONG THE ENTRANCE SLOT TOWARD THE FASTENER-APPLYING STATION; AND CONTROL MEANS MECHANICALLY COUPLED TO ONE OF THE SAID TRIP ARMS, SAID CONTROL MEANS ACTUATING THE SAID DRIVE MEANS WHEN THE TRIP ARMS ARE ROTATED BY THE CONTAINER NECK TO A SECOND POSITION DEFINED BY THE DISPOSITION OF THE CONTAINER NECK IN THE FASTENER-APPLYING STATION. 